Generally, oxy-trifluoromethylation in olefins is achieved using oxidants and transition metal catalysts. However, labile olefins remain unexplored due to their incompatibility with harsh reaction conditions. Here, unprecedented light-induced oxidant and metal-free tandem radical cyclization–trifluoromethylation and dehydrogenative oxygenation of 1,6-enynes have been achieved using a photoredox catalyst, CF3SO2Na, and phenanthrene-9,10-dione (PQ), Langlois’ reagent (CF3SO2Na) and water as the oxygen source. This benign protocol allows for access to various CF3-containing C3-aryloyl/acylated benzofurans, benzothiophenes, and indoles. Moreover, the oxidized undesired products, which are inherently formed by the cleavage of the vinylic carbon and heteroatom bond, have been circumvented under oxidant free conditions. The mechanistic investigations by UV-visible and ESR spectroscopy, electrochemical studies, isotope labelling and density functional theory (DFT) suggest that light induced PQ produced a CF3 radical from CF3SO2Na. The generated CF3 radical adds to the alkene, followed by cyclization, to provide a vinylic radical that transfers an electron to PQ and generates a vinylic cation. Alternatively, electron transfer may occur from the CF3-added alkene moiety, forming a carbocation, which would undergo cationic cyclization to generate a vinylic carbocation. The subsequent addition of water to the vinylic cation, followed by the elimination of hydrogen gas, led to the formation of trifluoromethylated C3-aryloyl/acylated heterocycles.

Introduction

C3-Aryloylated benzofurans, benzothiophenes, indoles, and related fused polyheterocycles are privileged structures with numerous applications in materials, drugs, and biology (Fig. 1).1–5 Benzbromarone2 is being used for the treatment of gout as a urate lowering drug (ULD) and amiodarone3 is a potent inhibitor of the human cytochrome P-450 (CYP)2C19 responsible for metabolizing commonly prescribed drugs. The C3-aryloylated benzothiophenes,4 raloxifene and tubulin, which are antimitotic agents, act as an estrogen receptor and inhibitor for the polymerization of tubulin and growth of tumour cells, respectively. Similarly, 2-methyl-C3-aryloylated indoles,5 namely pravadoline, WIN55212-2, and clometacin, are nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, which are used against pain and inflammation. However, the construction of C3-aryloylated benzofuran, indole, and thiophene scaffolds is still challenging (vide infra) despite the availability of advanced synthetic strategies.15–17

Fig. 1 C3-Aryloylated heterocyclic drugs.

The incorporation of a trifluoromethyl group (–CF3) into drug molecules can dramatically change their properties, such as their solubility, lipophilicity, metabolic stability, etc.6 As a result, several trifluoromethylated heterocycles, such as efavirenz and celecoxib, are used as potential drugs for the treatment of various diseases.7 It is worth noting that the synthesis of trifluoromethylated C3-aryloyl heterocycles (shown in Fig. 1) has not been reported to date.

The trifluoromethylation and oxygenation of alkene and alkyne substrates have been achieved using various trifluoromethylating reagents and peroxides, persulfates, hypervalent iodine salts and oxygen as the oxidant and/or transition metal catalytic system (Scheme 1, eqn (1)).8–14 Although different valuable approaches appear to have been incorporated into the –CF3 group, still there is demand for mild and sustainable synthetic methods that avoid oxidants and heavy metals and are applicable to sensitive substrates for the construction of functionalized advanced heterocycles.

Scheme 1 Oxy-trifluoromethylation of alkenes.

The cyclization of 1,6-enynes can be a powerful transformation that allows for the construction of C3-aryloyl/acylated heterocycles (Scheme 1, eqn (2)).15–17 1,6-Enyne substrates under transition metal (TM)-catalyzed reaction conditions are rearranged to benzofuran,15 benzothiophene16 and indole17 heterocycles, and thus restrict the use of TM to access the desired C3-aryloylated heterocycles. On the other hand, the use of oxidants such as hypervalent iodine reagents, peroxides, and oxygen, which are required for the generation of the CF3 radical and as a source of oxygen under TM-free conditions, led to the cleavage of the vinylic carbon–heteroatom (oxygen, sulfur, nitrogen, etc.)8c bond and thus provided undesired phenol, thiophenol and aniline as the main side products, respectively (eqn (3)). It is a natural inherent property of oxygen (bi-radical) to form a peroxide that leads to the cleavage of the labile carbon–heteroatom bond and thus imposes a major challenge to functionalize such a vinylic carbon–carbon double bond.8f Consequently, keeping the ether linkage intact throughout the trifluoromethylation of the vinylic C–C double bond adjacent to the heteroatom has not been reported to date, despite the presence of this skeleton in various molecules of pharmaceuticals, agrochemicals, materials, and fine chemicals.

Photocatalyzed cascade radical reactions have gained much attention in recent times as these reactions provide access to complex molecules in one pot with step and atom economy.18,19 Although several photocatalyzed trifluoromethylation reactions viz. aromatic trifluoromethylation,20a conversion of alkynes into tetra-substituted trifluoromethylated alkenes,20b and radical trifluoromethylation/cyclization cascade for CF3-containing pyrazolines and isoxazolines20c have been described, cascade oxy-trifluoromethylation has not been explored. Water is the most abundant reactant that can be used as an oxygen source in photocatalytic reactions. The incorporation of water for the oxygenation of substrates requires a strong one-electron oxidant. Alternatively, water can be added as a nucleophile to an organic substrate followed by its oxidation by weaker oxidants under light driven conditions, which could lead to the oxygenation of organic molecules.21

In the continuation of our research interest in TM-free C–C and C–heteroatom coupling reactions,22 here, we disclose a photocatalyzed reaction that not only activates CF3SO2Na for the generation of the CF3 radical but also facilitates water towards the oxygenation of organic molecules. This approach enables the oxygenation of labile 1,6-enyne substrates along with the generation of hydrogen gas under oxidant-free conditions, which circumvents an undesired, over-oxidized product. The mechanistic investigations by labelling experiments, UV-visible and ESR spectroscopy and cyclic voltammetry studies, corroborated by DFT calculations, have been carried out to understand the role of the photoredox catalyst (PC) in the oxy-trifluoromethylation reaction of 1,6-enynes under oxidant and metal-free conditions.

Results and discussion

Initial screening and photo-initiated conditions with and without oxidants

Initially, 1-(phenylethynyl)-2-(vinyloxy)benzene substrate 1a was reacted with an economical amount of trifluoromethylating Langlois’ reagent (CF3SO2Na) under an oxygen atmosphere and heated conditions (Table 1). Disappointingly, cleavage of the vinylic carbon–oxygen bond occurred, which yielded undesired 2-(phenylethynyl)phenol 2a′ instead of C3-aryloylated-2-trifluoromethylated benzofuran 2a (Table 1, entry 1). Similarly, various oxidants, such as hydrogen peroxide, benzyl peroxide, tert-butyl hydroperoxide, di-tert butyl peroxide, iodine, (diacetoxyiodo)benzene, persulfate salts, oxone, ceric ammonium nitrate, 2,3-dichloro-5,6-dicyano-p-benzoquinone and the radical initiators azobisisobutyronitrile and azobis(2,4-dimethylvaleronitrile), provided the undesired phenol 2a′ as a major product and 2a was noticed as a minor product (<20% yields, see ESI, page S3 and S4†). Next, we performed the reaction at room temperature using oxygen, and the reaction provided 2a and 2a′ in <10 and 15% yields, respectively (Table 1, entry 2). However, poor conversion was observed despite the continuation of the reaction for a longer time (24 h) and 70% of substrate 1a was recovered from the reaction.

aThe reactions were carried out using 0.1 mmol of 1a, 0.3 mmol of CF3SO2Na and 0.01 mmol of photocatalyst (PC) in 1 mL of solvent at 30 °C in a 5 mL round bottom flask under O2 or Ar atmosphere, unless otherwise stated; the progress of the reaction was monitored by TLC.bPercentage isolated yield.cUnder a household CFL bulb (23 W). nd = not detected.

Next, we envisaged that the UV-visible irradiation of the reaction system in the presence of diketones would bring about oxy-trifluoromethylation in 1,6-enyne as n → π* triplet-excited ketones have been successfully exploited in several photoinduced chemical transformations.23 Consequently, α-diketones (A–D) and ortho-quinones 1,10-phenanthroline-5,6-dione (PQD) and phenanthrene-9,10-dione (PQ) were investigated for their UV-visible absorption properties (Fig. 2). A–D show strong absorption in the ultraviolet range below 380 nm, whereas ortho-quinones PQD and PQ exhibit absorption bands in the visible range (380–420 nm). The absorption bands for PQ appeared in the visible light region (420 and 505 nm)24 in acetone solvent, which shows a slight red shift in acetonitrile (ESI, page S12 and S13†). The electronic excitation would lead to a first triplet excited state (T1) of the carbonyl group having a diradicaloid nature. The triplet states of aromatic ketones are long-lived, and also the electronic character and reactivity of the lowest triplet state can be tuned by the solvent polarity.25 9,10-Phenanthrenequinone PQ shows an n → π* transition of an aromatic ketone that could reverse the charges on the CO group, thus making the oxygen atom electron deficient. Due to the electron-deficient oxygen atom and “radical-like” characteristic of carbonyl in PQ, its reduction is enabled26 by the abstraction of an electron from CF3SO2Na and the generation of a CF3 radical, which can indeed initiate a cascade reaction.

Fig. 2 Screened diketones and ortho-quinones.

The reaction system under UV-irradiation in acetone, which acts as a solvent and radical initiator,20n and under oxygen atmosphere provided only traces of 2a (Table 1, entry 3). Similar results were obtained with A–C under UV-irradiation and also with D, PQD and PQ under visible light and oxygen atmosphere (Table 1, entries 4–9). In the absence of oxygen, no product formation was realized, as expected (Table 1, entry 10). Surprisingly, when the reaction was performed in the absence of oxygen in a mixture of an organic and water solvent system, a noticeable increase in the yield of the desired product 2a was observed, moreover, the formation of undesired side product was minimized to <10% yield (Table 1, entries 11–16). The reactions presented here were optimized under sun-light irradiation. In a separate experiment, a household CFL bulb (23 W) was used, which provided nearly the same yield of 2a (69% vs. 76% in sunlight) although a longer time (6 h for sunlight vs. 16 h for one 23 W CFL bulb) is required (Table 1, entry 17). A trifluoromethylation reaction under oxygen atmosphere, instead of argon, under optimized conditions, afforded 24% yield of the desired product 2a (Table 1, entry 18). Among the various diketones screened (A–D, PQD, PQ) (Table 1, entries 3–17), PQ, which has been explored for the first time,27 provided optimum yield of the desired oxy-trifluoromethylated benzofuran 2a under sunlight irradiation.

The substrate scope of the light-induced oxy-trifluoromethylation reaction to phenolic 1,6-enynes

Next, the substrate scope was studied on phenolic 1,6-enynes (1a–1r)28 under the optimized reaction conditions (Table 1, entry 15). Substrates 1b–1j, with electron donating as well as electron withdrawing substituents on the ethynyl ring, showed compatibility with the optimized reaction conditions and afforded respective trifluoromethylated benzofurans 2b–2j in 57–75% yields (Scheme 2). Moreover, the phenolic-1,6-enyene substrate 1c with OH functionality and an acidic proton was tolerated to provide hydroxyl benzofuran 2c in good yield. The heteroaromatics pyridyl and thiophenyl and other aromatic naphthyl, as the ethynyl ring containing substrates 1k–1m, were also amenable to the reaction and transformed into the respective benzofurans 2k–2m. Next, the n- and sec-alkyl substituted substrates 1n–1o underwent an oxy-trifluoromethylation reaction to afford the acyl-benzofurans 2n–2o, albeit in low yields. Substitution on the phenolic ring was also explored under the optimized conditions. Substrate 1p, containing a naphthyl ring, and substrates 1q–1r, having fluoro and methyl substituents on the phenolic ring, afforded respective trifluoromethylated benzofurans 2p and 2q–2r without any noticeable loss in the yields (55–69%).

Scheme 2 CF3-Benzo[b]furans: the scope with regards to the ethynyl and vinyloxy rings; the reactions were carried out at 0.1 mmol of 1a using 0.3 mmol of CF3SO2Na and 0.01 mmol of photocatalyst PQ in CH3CN + H2O (0.9 + 0.1 mL) under Ar, and the progress of the reaction was monitored by TLC for 4–8 h.

Substrate scope with regard to thiophenolic 1,6-enynes

In order to explore the synthesis of trifluoromethylated C3-aryloyl benzothiophenes, thio-linked 1,6-enyne substrates 3a–3m were prepared from 2-bromo-benzenethiols in moderate yields (Scheme 3, for details see the ESI, page S28 and S29†). In general, the sulfur-containing substrates showed sluggish reactivity under TM-catalyzed reaction conditions due to the poisoning of the catalyst by sulfur. Earlier synthetic methods involve inter or intramolecular coupling of alkynyl and sulfoxide in the presence of high loading of the Au, Hg and Pd-catalysts.16d,e To our delight, a TM-free cyclization reaction yielded C3-aryloyl trifluoromethylated benzothiophenes 4a–4m in nearly the same yields (73–36%) as those obtained for benzofurans. Moreover, a similar substrate scope was realized as thio-linked 1,6-enyne substrates 3b–3m with electron donating methyl, methoxy, [1,3]-dioxole, and tri- methoxy and electron withdrawing CF3 and F and also naphthyl, thiophenyl, and n-butyl substituents provided unaltered yields of 2-trifluoromethyl C3-aryloyl/acylated benzothiophenes 4b–4m. The cyclopropyl substituted substrate 3l also underwent ring opening of the cyclopropyl ring by the trifluoromethyl radical to yield an unexpected di-trifluoromethylated benzothiophene 4l as the major product and a di-trifluoromethylated product as the minor product.

Scheme 3 Synthesis of CF3-benzo[b]thiophenes. The reaction of 0.1 mmol of 3a, 0.3 mmol of CF3SO2Na and 0.01 mmol of photocatalyst PQ in CH3CN and H2O was irradiated under Ar and the progress of the reaction was monitored by TLC. 4l was obtained from cyclopropane substituted substrate 3l, as the major along with the minor (n = 1) product (see the ESI, page S56 and S57, and the spectra on pages S203–S207†).

Substrate scope with regard to anilinic 1,6-enynes

Next, N-tosyl (Ts) and N-tert-butyloxycarbonyl (Boc) protected 1,6-enyne29 substrates were prepared to construct trifluoromethylated C3-aryloyl indoles, which are prevalent heterocycles in many drugs and materials (Scheme 4).5a,b Indeed, N-tosylated substrates 5a–5g underwent an oxy-trifluoromethylation reaction. Moreover, the removal of the tosyl (Ts) group was realized in the same pot leading to N-unprotected trifluoromethylated C3-aryloyl indoles 6a–6g in 67–56% yields. Next, we sought for the synthesis of N-protected trifluoromethylated C3-aryloyl indoles. Substrates 5h–5l, which were protected by a N-tert-butyloxycarbonyl (Boc) group, provided trifluoromethylated indoles in moderate (10–57%) yields. Both N-Ts and Boc-protected 1,6-enyne substrates, having bromo, fluoro, difluoro, methoxy, methyl and pyridyl, naphthyl and thiophenyl rings, were amenable to the oxidant and metal-free oxy-trifluoromethylation reactions. A more efficient electron delocalization occurs with the N-protected carbonyl group of carbamate rather than the sufonyl moiety of the tosyl group. The weak mesomeric effect indicates that the sulfur-centered group had increased electron density on the nitrogen, which reflected the higher aromaticity of the indole.30 As a consequence, tosyl becomes a better leaving group than carbamate. Thus the deprotection of the tosyl protecting group under the optimized reaction conditions is attributed to its labile nature. The C3-aryloyl trifluoromethylated indoles 6c and 6d, benzofuran 2c, and benzothiophene 4k are also characterized by X-ray single crystal structure analysis (for details, see ESI, pages S80–S106†).

Scheme 4 Synthesis of CF3-indoles. The reaction of 5a (0.1 mmol), 0.3 mmol of CF3SO2Na and 0.01 mmol of photocatalyst PQ in CH3CN and H2O was irradiated for 4–8 h under argon atmosphere.

Synthesis of CF3-bearing drugs

The synthesis of trifluoromethylated drug molecules was explored from synthesized 2-trifluoromethyl-C3-aryloyl benzofuran 2c and indole 6f by late-stage functionalization (Scheme 5). The bromination of benzofuran 2c using N-bromosuccinimide afforded novel trifluoromethylated benzbromarone 7a in 40% yield. The N-alkylation of the synthesized oxy-trifluoromethylated indole 6f was observed to be difficult by known methods using KOH in DMSO, Cs2CO3 in DMSO or K2CO3 in DMF and failed to yield N-alkylated indole 7b and instead a decomposed product was realized.31 The addition of NaH in DMF along with n-propyl iodide at 0 °C provided the trifluoromethylated JWH-105 7b drug in moderate yield (54%).

Scheme 5 CF3-bearing drugs by post-modification. NBS (0.40 mmol) and 2c (0.20 mmol) were used for 7a. nPrI (0.12 mmol) and 6f (0.16 mmol) in DMF were used for 7b.

1H NMR experiments were performed on the reaction mixture to gain further insights. 1H NMR spectroscopy of the reaction mixture shows a peak (δ = 4.57 ppm) indicative of hydrogen evolution in the reaction mixture (see the ESI, page S7–S8 for details†).32 Next, a reaction was carried out in CH3CN-d3 to study the role of the solvent. Expectedly, 1H NMR spectroscopy shows the formation of H2, which suggests that acetonitrile does not participate in the reaction. When D2O was used in the reaction, the formation of H–D (δ = 4.55 ppm, J = 42.8 Hz) and H2 was realized in the 1H NMR spectrum, revealing the involvement of water in the hydrogen gas evolution (Fig. 3 and Scheme 6). The formation of H2 gas is attributed to H2O in deuterated solvents and it is the result of hydrogen and deuterium exchange (page S8†).

Fig. 3 1H NMR spectrum of the reaction showing H2 & HD evolution.

ESR investigation

To investigate the reaction pathways, EPR experiments were conducted on the reaction mixture. For this purpose, the generated reactive CF3 radical in the reaction was trapped by the 2-methyl-2-nitrosopropane (MNP) dimer, and its EPR spectrum was monitored (Scheme 7).

Scheme 7 The reaction with a radical trapping reagent. The reaction was carried out using CF3SO2Na (0.3 mmol), 1a (0.1 mmol) and MNP (0.2 mmol) in an EPR tube in CH2Cl2/H2O.

CF3SO2Na and MNP in the presence of CH3CN/H2O under light irradiation provided a triplet centred at 3364.5 G with a coupling constant 14.7 G, which is attributed to the dissociation of MNP to a tert-butyl nitroxide radical (see the ESI, Fig. S6†). The formation of the tert-butyl nitroxide radical is largely suppressed in CH2Cl2/H2O and the formation of the tert-butyl-trifluoromethyl nitroxide radical 7c (Scheme 7) is observed predominantly as the EPR spectrum shows a sextet centered at g = 2.0054 with a coupling constant 12.27 G.33 A reaction mixture of MNP, CF3SO2Na and 1a under dark conditions was realized to be EPR silent. Upon light irradiation, the reaction mixture shows a similar well-resolved sextet centered at g = 2.0089 with a coupling constant 12.38 G (Scheme 7 and Fig. 4). The intensity of the EPR signals gradually decreased with time and completely diminished after 25 minutes. The second time irradiation of the same reaction mixture again showed a sextet signal in the EPR spectrum. This suggests that continuous irradiation of the reaction mixture is necessary for the generation of the CF3 radical to achieve maximum conversion.

Fig. 4 EPR spectra of the reaction mixture with MNP at different time intervals.

Absorption spectra

UV-visible spectroscopic studies were performed on the reaction mixture to understand the role of PQ. The spectra of PQ shows well-resolved absorption maxima at 420 and 510 nm in CH3CN and H2O (9:1) mixtures (Fig. 5). An equimolar mixture of PQ and CF3SO2Na did not lead to any change in the absorption spectrum under dark conditions.

Fig. 5 Absorption spectra of PQ:CF3SO2Na:1a = 0.1:3:1 under visible light and dark conditions at different time intervals.

The reaction mixture of PQ, CF3SO2Na and substrate 1a provided a similar absorption spectrum under dark conditions. Further, the impact of light on the reaction progress was studied for 3 h at 30 min time intervals. Upon sunlight irradiation (30 min) of the reaction mixture, the characteristic peaks of PQ completely disappeared (Fig. 5) suggesting the involvement of PQ in the oxy-trifluoromethylation reaction.

The absorption spectra of the standard reaction mixture remained nearly unchanged at various time intervals. It seems that photocatalyst PQ is transformed into another species, presumably phenanthrene-9,10-diol (PQH2), which might be the dominant species observable by UV-visible spectroscopy under the reaction conditions (Fig. S13, see the ESI page S14†). A slight increase in the absorption at 420 nm was observed with an increase in time, which could be attributed to the partial regeneration of PQ after the completion of the reaction. Further, the regeneration of PQ is confirmed by 13C NMR spectroscopy and mass spectrometry (ESI, page S16 and S17†).

The considerably lower reduction potentials of PQ, presumably due to the presence of conjugation adjacent to the 9 and 10-positions of the CO group, provide stability to the radical PQ˙H and diol PQH2. Also, photocatalyst PQ exhibited high stability under the electrochemical redox process as it underwent 12-cycles without any loss in the redox activity.

Photocatalyst PQ has a triplet excited state energy of 2.116 V.36a Thus, the excited state reduction potential Ered1/2* (3PQ*/PQ˙−) of PQ is 1.6 V (ref. 27f and 36b) and Langlois’ reagent exhibits an oxidation potential of 1.05 V (vs. SCE),37 which suggests that PQ is strong enough for the oxidation of CF3SO2Na by single electron transfer (ΔGPET = −12.7 kcal mol−1).

Control experiments

To study whether water alone is enough to initiate the reaction, substrate 1a was treated with water in the absence of CF3SO2Na under optimized reaction conditions (Scheme 9). The hydroxylation of the alkene or alkyne was not observed and 1,6-enyne 1a was recovered quantitatively. It seems that the substrate does not undergo photohydration of the alkynes34 to provide 1-phenyl-2-(2-(vinyloxy)phenyl)ethan-1-one, which is suggestive of the reaction procession being less likely via oxygenation followed by trifluoromethylation of substrate 1a.

Scheme 9 The attempted hydroxylation of 1,6-enyne 1a. The reaction was carried out using 0.1 mmol of 1a, 0.3 mmol of CF3SO2Na and 0.01 mmol of PQ in CH3CN and H2O in a 5 mL round bottom flask.

When the reaction was performed in the presence of a radical scavenger, TEMPO, the formation of 2a was not observed. Instead, the coupling between CF3 and TEMPO was realized (see ESI, S11†).

Mechanism, quantum yield and DFT calculations

Based on the control and labelling experiments, it is reasonable to assume that the photoredox catalyst PQ, excited by visible light, activates CF3SO2Na by single electron transfer to produce a CF3 radical and SO2 (Scheme 10). The trifluoromethylated radical would add to the vinylic carbon–carbon double bond of the substrate 1a, forming a radical species I, which intramolecularly translocated to the alkyne bond via 5-exo-dig cyclization and thus rearranged to the vinylic radical IIa. The electron transfer from vinylic radical IIa to PQ would lead to vinylic carbocation III and PQH2. Although, vinylic carbocations have low thermodynamic stability due to the sp-hybridization of the carbenium centre and as a consequence show poor S1N-reactivity. However, the sp–sp2 rehybridization in the high energy state could account for its electrophilic nature.38 The second electron accepting ability of the photoredox catalyst PQ would facilitate the formation of vinylic carbocation III.

Scheme 10 Proposed mechanism for C3-aryloyl benzofuran.

Alternatively, the alkyl ether radical I may transfer an electron to PQ˙H intermolecularly and convert into carbocation IIb, which may proceed by an intramolecular cationic cyclization to provide vinylic carbocation III.39

The slow addition of water to vinylic carbocation III shall provide aquated intermediate IV, which upon release of the proton converts into enol intermediate V. Further, the photoaromatization of enol V would furnish 2-trifluromethylation C3-aryloyl benzofuran 2a along with the concomitant release of hydrogen gas.40 As inferred from the UV-visible study (vide supra), PQH2 would be the predominant species in the catalytic cycle. PQH2 could regenerate to PQ by the transfer of its electrons to sulfur dioxide37 and/or the trifluoromethyl radical to form a HSO2 radical and/or fluoroform, respectively.

The quantum yield (QY) can in particular provide valuable insight into the mechanistic understanding of the photocatalytic reaction, which involves radical chain propagation. The QY of the developed reaction, substrate 1a to product 2a, was studied using the photodecomposition of potassium ferrioxalate, which is a well-explored chemical actinometer.41 The determined QY is φ = 27 (for details, see the ESI page S17†) which suggests that 27 equivalents of product 2a are formed for every photon absorbed by the photocatalyst PQ. Therefore, the reaction may proceed via a chain mechanism. The generated HSO2 radical propagates the radical chain by reacting with Langlois’ reagent, which again provides a CF3 radical, thus continuing the radical chain reaction.

DFT calculations were explored to examine the mechanism of the reaction (Fig. 7 and Scheme 10). The thermodynamic feasibility of the intermediates and oxygenation by water were computed using DFT-B3LYP/6-31+G(d) in a Gaussian 09 suite in CH3CN (see the ESI, page S65–S80†). The Gibbs free energy of the reaction suggests that the proposed intermediates I–V are stable under the reaction conditions.38 The vinylic cation III could be obtained from radical I by two paths A and B (Fig. 7) as the energy difference between them is 2.03 kcal mol−1. The attack of a water molecule on vinylic cation III could be the key step in the transformation and may occur through a transition state TS. The energy barrier (ΔG#) for the step is +16.47 kcal mol−1, which could be feasible under the reaction conditions. Further, the abstraction of the proton from the hydronium ion IV by PQH− provides a stabilization to intermediate V by the energy difference of 63.52 kcal mol−1 and the subsequent removal of hydrogen gas from the intermediate V lowers the energy by 6.78 kcal mol−1.

Fig. 7 The calculated relative Gibbs’ free energy of the reaction (ΔG° in kcal mol−1) obtained at a DFT-B3LYP/6-31+G(d)/CPCM(acetonitrile) level of theory.

Conclusions

In summary, we have unveiled an oxidant and TM-free visible light induced oxy-trifluoromethylation of enynes that enables access to biologically important carboxy-trifluoromethylated benzofurans, thiophenes, and indoles. The mild reaction conditions tolerate electronically diverse substrates, regardless of the substitution pattern on either ethynylic or vinylic arene, and as a consequence the methyl group in benzbromarone and JWH015 drugs has been substituted by a trifluoromethyl group. This protocol relies on the universal solvent as a source of oxygen for the oxygenation of enynes. The use of a highly practical 9,10-phenanthrequinone photoredox catalyst, which has a two electron redox property, seems crucial for the transformation as it not only generates trifluoromethyl radicals from the Langlois’ reagent by an electron transfer, but it also brings about one electron oxidation of enynes by a second electron transfer, which in turn facilitates oxygenation utilizing water followed by hydrogen gas evolution under oxidant and TM-free mild conditions. Moreover, we have shown that the di-functionalization of the vinylic double bond adjacent to the heteroatom, which is a formidable task due to the cleavage of the labile carbon–heteroatom bond, can be achieved under the developed conditions. The finding of oxy-trifluoromethylation of enyne substrates under metal and oxidant-free conditions opens a new avenue for the synthesis of trifluoromethylated advance heterocyclic molecules under atom and step economical pathways.

Acknowledgements

We are grateful for the financial support from DST-SERB New Delhi (EMR/2015/000061). SJ, RK and AV acknowledge IISER Bhopal and UGC, New Delhi for fellowships. Miss Anjaly N. Vijayan for help with the preparation of precursors, Miss Debarati Roy Chowdhury and Dr Suraj Kumar Gupta for help with the electrochemical study, Dr Apurba Lal Koner for determination of the quantum yield, and the reviewers for their valuable comments are greatly acknowledged.